God’s promise of a transformed community (Jer. 3:17) comes with a promise of competent pastoral care: “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (v. 15).
The Lord here pictures church officers as shepherds who care for his flock.[1] The phrase “according to mine heart” means obedient to God’s will and conforming to God’s character, in contrast to those who stubbornly follow their own “evil heart” (v. 17). It alludes to David’s faithfulness in doing the Lord’s will in contrast to Saul’s disobedience (1 Sam. 13:13–14; cf. Acts 13:22). These shepherds give to the people the “knowledge and understanding” of the Lord that is the greatest blessing they have in their power to bestow (Jer. 9:23–24). In summary, God promises to give to his people pastors who shepherd them with a beautiful combination of faithfulness to God in both their lives and their teaching.
Pastors and theological students, you must bring to the church both experiential piety and doctrinal truth; your right believing must be adorned with right living. You must embrace this subjective-objective balance in your ministry. As John Murray liked to say, we aim for “intelligent piety.”[2] Your
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